Library cards become free bus ride for Durham kids this summer

Kids up to Grade 8 can register at local libraries for Ride to Read

Library cards become free bus ride for Durham kids this summer

Ryan Pfeiffer / Metroland

AJAX -- Throughout the months of July and August, children enrolled in the TD Summer Reading Club at their local library can ride Durham Region Transit for free through the Ride to Read program. Children in elementary school will receive special stickers on their library cards at their local branch as part of joining the reading club. Pictured, clockwise from the back, were Emma Schindler, 13, Celeste Gomes, eight, Stephanie Gomes, five, Katie Wilson, six, and Noah Wilson, eight. June 16, 2010.

DURHAM -- In addition to opening a world of stories, history, science and more, children's library cards will also get them free rides on local buses this summer in Durham.

All eight local libraries are partnering with Durham Region Transit in the Ride to Read program, which is open to kids from kindergarten to Grade 8.

Starting in July, students will receive a sticker on their library card when they register for the TD Summer Reading Club at their local library. With the sticker, their card will serve as a bus pass allowing them to ride DRT buses for free anywhere Durham. They must return to the library to receive a new sticker in August. An adult will need to accompany those children 10 years of age and under, and will be required to pay the regular adult fare.

The idea for the program came from Ajax chief librarian and executive officer Donna Bright, who had created a similar program in Cobourg last year when she was serving as head librarian there.

We want to eliminate barriers for people coming to

"I stole the idea; it started at the Cornwall library," she said, adding she heard about it at a librarians' conference.

Ms. Bright said studies show children who keep reading over the summer do better in school in the fall and the free bus bass allows them to access recreation centres, public beaches and more.

"We want to eliminate barriers for people coming to the library and for some, it's distance, it's transportation," she said.

She mentioned the idea to Ajax councillor Scott Crawford who sits on the Town's library board as well as the Region's transit executive committee.

"He said he'd be interested in it for sure and it was his advice to make sure to include the other libraries as well," said Ms. Bright.

Durham's other seven library systems jumped on board, as did transit officials. Whitby Public Library chief executive officer Ian Ross helped Ms. Bright make the pitch to Regional council and it ultimately supported the program.

To punctuate the importance of this pilot program, Ms. Bright tells the story of a young girl named Jessica who came from an economically disadvantaged family and used to frequent the Cobourg library.

"The library was like her second home," said Ms. Bright. But when her family's home burned down and Jessica moved to the periphery of Cobourg, she came less frequently, roller blading through all kinds of weather.

When Jessica found out about the program, she called the library in excitement, happy to have easy access once again.

"If there are other Jessicas out there, I'm hoping they can take advantage of the program."